Breakdown (崩壊 Hōkai) is the fourth chapter of Onisarashi-hen.
Summary[]
Haruko instructs the family to get bags and duct tape so they can pack up Aki's body parts and dispose them at the mountain. Natsumi gazes at her bloodstained hands. Touji asks if she's alright, and Natsumi starts crying at having done such a horrible thing to her grandma. Natsumi says they should call the police but Haruko reappears and wonders what they're talking about. Touji tries convincing her to leave Natsumi out of this, as she has school tomorrow. Haruko doesn't trust her to be alone, and Natsumi promises she won't do anything. Haruko tells her to change her clothes.
The next day, Natsumi is washing her hands with Chisato and Tamako chatting nearby after another day at PE. As she watches the water flow into the drain she’s reminded of all the blood pouring into the drain at home yesterday. Chisato and Tamako see how her hands are all red from washing them too hard. Natsumi then sees Akira looking at them and then turns away to go back to class.
Chisato goes to tease Akira and asks if he’s to blame for Natsumi’s strange behavior, and Tamako shows concern for Natsumi. Chisato turns serious and tells Akira of a rumor that Natsumi is from Hinamizawa. Akira shows some indignation and Chisato backs off, saying she also thinks it’s just a rumor and nothing more. Every exchange student is the center of a rumor like that, and Chisato wanted to know if Akira was interested. They figure Natsumi is acting strange because of the rumor and must have something to do with it. Akira doesn’t think so, as Natsumi is still Natsumi no matter where she was born. Tamako suggests that they all go somewhere after school to cheer Natsumi up.
The group invites Natsumi to go to a pastry shop with them, and as they walk Natsumi keeps thinking back to the feeling of chopping up her grandma. Natsumi notices that Akira is holding her hand, and she begins to give an answer to Akira’s confession when a TV in a nearby store reports news that a human head was found near a mountain highway. Several people crowd around the store, hearing that the head was found in a very visible place, almost as though the perpetrator wanted it to be found. Natsumi lets go of Akira’s hand and tells her friends that she left her wallet at home, soon running off.
Haruko is also watching the news at home, which is reporting that the head belongs to a woman at least 60 years old and have determined her identity using her dental records. Natsumi goes to check on her mom, who looks deranged as she insults Touji, who supposedly hid the body really well. Haruko takes her anger out by stabbing a knife into the counter, and Natsumi goes back outside and hangs her head. Akira shows up, and Natsumi apologizes that she can’t go to the pastry shop. Akira knows something’s happened at home and wants to know what it is, and he won’t hear any lies. Natsumi still doesn’t want to say anymore, and Ooishi then shows up. Ooishi comments that he visited Natsumi’s house the other day and notices how the fence got repainted after it was graffitied earlier. Akasaka also shows up and Ooishi asks Natsumi how her grandmother is doing, as the neighbors haven’t seen her in days. Natsumi runs away, and Akasaka and Ooishi talk amongst themselves for a bit. Akira asks what they know about the Kimiyoshis and wants to hear about Oyashiro-sama.
Haruko attacks her husband
Later, Haruko goes ballistic at Touji for leaving Aki’s corpse in such a bad spot, assaulting him and preparing to throw a vase at him as Natsumi tries to calm her down. Haruko yells out that they were about to go back to their peaceful lives and now Touji has ruined it. She pushes Natsumi down and panics over everything ending when the police discover what’s happened. She then goes off to be by herself.
Natsumi questions why everything turned out this way, as she just wanted to be happy. Touji says they should go to the police; even though he was afraid of losing their new life, he can still protect his daughter. Natsumi becomes happy and is suddenly sprayed with blood as Touji falls over, bleeding from a neck wound caused by Haruko. Natsumi screams.
Characters[]
- Natsumi Kimiyoshi
- Haruko Kimiyoshi
- Touji Kimiyoshi
- Chisato Saeki
- Tamako Makimura
- Akira Toudou
- Kuraudo Ooishi
- Mamoru Akasaka
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